When the Jailhouse Rocks
Acts 16:20-34
February 4, 2001
Morning Service
Introduction
I. The earthquake in India
A. The mass destruction
1. Cities have been decimated
2. Homes and buildings completely destroyed
3. 10’ of thousands have been injured and over 20,000 have died
B. Respect for the power of an earthquake
1. An earthquake is a massive flow of power and destructive force
2. An earthquake moves with great power and speed. It is something to be feared.
II. Can an earthquake be a good thing?
A. On first thought we would say no
1. Something so destructive can not be good
2. Something so devastating can not be good
3. Something so deadly can not be good
B. In the hand of God anything can be good
1. God can make anything that seems bad and use it for something good
2. This morning we are going to look at When God made the jailhouse rock
READ TEXT
Body
I. The spirit that rocked the house
A. Paul and Silas were courageous
1. Paul and Silas were arrested for their work
a.) First, Paul and Silas were flogged. Literally they were beaten with rods
b.) Second, they were thrown into prison
1.) They were placed under tight security
2.) They were also placed in stocks. These were reserved for the most dangerous criminals
2. Paul and Silas never gave up – They had courage and spirit
B. Paul and Silas were consistent
1. Paul and Silas continued their ministry in prison
a.) Paul and Silas began to sing praise in prison
b.) They also began to pray
2. Their work was having an impact
a.) They impacted their own hearts and spirits
b.) They had an impact on the rest of the prisoners
II. The sympathy that rocked the house
Katie Fisher, 17, entered the Madison County Ohio Junior Livestock Sale hoping the lamb she had for sale would get a good price. For months Katie had been battling cancer. She had endured hospital stays and been through chemotherapy a number of times. Before the lamb went on the block, the auctioneer told the audience about Katie’s condition, hoping his introduction would push the price-per-pound above the average of two dollars. It did-and then some. The lamb sold for $11.50 per pound. Then the buyer gave it back, and suggested the auctioneer sell it again. That started a chain reaction. Families bought it and gave it back; businesses bought it and gave it back. Katie’s mother said, "The first sale is the only one I remember. After that, I was crying too hard." They ended up selling the lamb thirty-six times that day, raising more than $16,000 in the process.
A. The jailer lost control
1. The earthquake rocked the prison
a.) The prison’s foundations were shaken
b.) Every prison door opened and every prisoners chains fell off
2. The jailer lost hope
a.) The jailer saw the open doors and assumed the prisoners had escaped
b.) The jailer prepares to commit suicide – why?
1.) A guard who allowed prisoners escape would be executed – All of the guards who were responsible for Peter were executed when he escaped
2.) The jailer was going to kill himself to avoid the Roman execution
B. Paul and Silas show concern
1. Paul was concerned for the jailers safety
a.) Paul stops the jailer from killing himself
b.) Paul reports that none of the prisoners were gone
2. Paul was concerned for the jailers soul
a.) Paul had drawn the jailer to Christ
b.) Paul shares the gospel with the jailer
III. The salvation that rocked the house
A. The jailer was converted
1. The jailer was ready to receive Christ
a.) There could be little doubt that the jailer already heard Paul preaching
b.) This was a crisis moment and he was ready to receive Christ
c.) The question, “what must I do to be saved” speaks volumes
2. Paul shares the gospel in that prison – The jailer received Christ
B. The jailer’s home was changed
1. The jailer cares for Paul and Silas
a.) The jailer cleaned and bandaged their wounds
b.) The jailer gave them a meal
2. Paul wins the whole household
a.) The entire family was won to Christ and was baptized
b.) The household was filled with joy
Conclusion
I. Is God still in the business of rocking places? Yes
A. God wants to rock this church with spirit
1. God’s desire is for us to be bold and courageous
a.) Bold in the way we pray and courageous in the way we share the love of Jesus
b.) Bold in our faith and courageous in our service
2. God wants us to never give up
a.) God wants us to serve Him even when the times get tough
b.) God wants us to be willing to hope and look to Him even in the most dismal situations
B. God wants to rock this church with sympathy
1. The power of love is a very strong thing
a.) A little love goes a long, long way
b.) Jesus loved us enough to die for us and we should love lost people enough to share the truth and grace of Christ with them
2. God wants to see our concern for other people
a.) We must have a deep concern for the physical welfare of people
b.) We must have a greater concern with the spiritual welfare of other people
C. God wants to rock this church with salvation
1. The purpose of the church is spread the good news
a.) God will provide the opportunity
b.) We must be willing to step through the doors that God opens for us
1.) Michael W. Smith song “Give it Away” says, Love isn’t love until you give it away
2.) Now is the time that we give away the love of Jesus
2. The church will be changed when this begins
a.) The fact of transformation is that a person can not remain the same once Jesus comes into their life
b.) People will be draw to where God is moving
II. Our church needs to be rocked by the power of God
A. God can do it
1. God rocked that prison in Philippi. He can rock our church with His power
2. God hasn’t changed from that day to this one. He did it then and He can do it now
B. God wants to do it
1. God wants to rock this church with His power and His presence
2. God wants to rock your personal life with His power
C. God will do it
1. God will rock this place if we believe He will
2. The question is do you believe God is going to rock this place?
